Canada Rewards David Cronenberg For Not Moving To Hollywood

The Canadian director making movies at home, rather than in Hollywood, has earned Cronenberg's Robert Pattinson-starring Cosmopolis shoot in Toronto a $2.7 million investment from Telefilm Canada.

CALGARY – The Canadian government is bankrolling David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis to the tune of $2.7 million because the veteran Canuck auteur hasn’t succumbed to Hollywood’s siren song.

“David Cronenberg is the definitive Canadian artist, who despite receiving many tempting offers to move to Hollywood, has remained in Canada to practice his craft,” Carolle Brabant, executive director of Telefilm Canada, the feds’ film financier, said as production on the Robert Pattinson-starring thriller continues in Toronto through mid-July.

Cronenberg in a statement repaid Brabant’s compliment with a nod to the Maple Leaf flag: “Telefilm has made my career in Canada possible. Their continuous support of my work since my early days as a filmmaker has allowed me to remain and work at home.”

Cosmopolis, a Canada-French co-production, is produced by Paulo Branco through Paris-based Alfama Films Production and Martin Katz of Toronto-based Prospero Pictures.

The feature is adapted from Don DeLillo’s novel of the same name, and also stars Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti, Samantha Morton, Sarah Gadon, Mathieu Amalric and Jay Baruchel.